Joint for bathtubs and the like



Jan. 10, 1939. G. sAKlER JOINT FOR BATHTUBS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 3, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR @Jaw @TTORNEY mama Jan. 10, 1939. G. sAKlER JOINT FOR BATHTUBS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Il Il HUH* 'IIIIII HHIHI lllll'ulllllll L; INVENTOR -fa ATORNEYL Patented Jan. l10, 1939 UNITED STATE-S PATENT OFFICE 2,143,033 JOI-NT FOR. BATHTUBS AND THE Application August 3', 1937, Serial No. 157,138

14 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in plumbing fixtures and the same has for its object to provide a simple, eicient and inexpensive device for forming a iluid-tight joint between the wall portions of a room or other vertical support and the adjacent edges of bath tubs, lavatories, sink, tubs, and analogous articles.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive construction which may be conveniently applied to a bath tub or other article and readily conformed to any irregularities present in the contour of the tub or other article in connection with which the same is used.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a construction for the purposes specified in which a molding strip of rubber or analogous material is provided with a longitudinal recess to receive a reinforcing or channel member which, in turn, is adapted to receive and retain the edge of a relatively thin wall member or panel.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a molding strip formed of rubber or other suitable elastic material and having its upper portion slitted longitudinally, and its underside recessed longitudinally so that when pressure is applied to the upper part of said strip its underside will be forced into intimate contact throughout with the surface of the article with which said strip engages, and at the same time force the upperA edgesl of the strip towards each other and embrace between the same the portion of the wall or panel extending into said molding strip.

Further, said invention has for its object .to provide a joint of the character specified which may be easily applied to, and detached from a bath tub or other article.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends my invention consists in the novel features of construction, and in the combination, connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a bath tub with one form of joint, constructed according to and embodying my invention, applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged .detail perspective view, partly in section, showing a molding strip and a wall portion or panel therein in position for nal adjustment; Y

Fig. '3 is a similar view with the panel fully inserted in the molding strip, and the molding strip pressed into intimate engagement with the upper surface of the tub rim, and the upper edges of the molding strip embracing the edge of the wall portion or panel;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail face view, partly broken away and in section showing the construction and relative disposition of the several cooperating parts forming the joint;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 with parts of the molding strip broken away showing the manner of securing the molding in position around the corner of the bath tub;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view illustrating a modification, and

Fig. '1 is a similar view, illustrating a further modification.

In said drawings, referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, I 0 designates a bath tub of Well-known construction, and II a wall preferably formed of sheet metal panels IIa having their lower or inner edge portions cut away at I2 to receive the upper and side portions of the bath tub I0.

I3 denotes a molding strip preferably formed of soft, deformable metal, rubber or other suitable pliable or flexible material. 'I'he said strip I3 is of generally quadrant shape in cross-section Aand is provided in its upper portion with a vertical, longitudinal recess I4 terminating at its upper side in a constricted slot or entrance portion I5' which serves to separate the edges I6, I6. The said strip I3 is further provided in its lower or underside with a shallow, inverted V-shaped recess I9 which has its highest or'deepest part 20 extending longitudinally of the strip near the center thereof, and is thence inclined downwardly and outwardly towards the opposite longitudinal edges ofthe strip.

Within the longitudinal recess I4 is disposed or embedded a U-shape reinforcing and retaining member I5. The said U-shape member is preferably formed of sheet metal and is of substantially rigid construction except that the opposing side walls are yielding or resilient relative to each other in order to facilitate the insertion of the edges of the wall members or panels Ila therein, and to retain the same therein by frictional engagement of the parts. Where a more permanent connection is desired the retaining member I5 may be provided at suitable intervals of itsl length with vertical rowslof apertures I5a to receive Vfastening means, such as pins I5b which extend In this construction the several parts are all constructed asshown and described in connection with Fig. 1 to Fig. E inclusive, except that in Fig. 7, a cushioning element in the form of a sinuous spring member 2| is disposed within the U-shape member I5, and engaged by the edge of the wall member or panel Il to compensate for any irregularities or uneveness present in the contour of the bath tub or other article in connection with which the joint is used.

The wall il is formed of panels Ila of sheet metal or other suitable material of such thickness that the same may be duly fitted into the U-shape reinforcing member I5 and ll the space between the opposing side walls of said reinforcing member I5.

Where the molding strip I3 has to be carried around and conformed to two surfaces of an article disposed at an angle to each other, as for example, the top and sides of a bath tub, as illustrated at Fig. 5, the reinforcing strip is made of two or more sections with their adjacent ends separated, as shown, to permit of the bending of the pliable or elastic portion of the strip lying between the separated ends of said reinforcing strip sections.

In operation, when applying a strip to form a water-tight joint it merely becomes necessary to position the strip upon the bath tub or other article adjacent to the rear edge thereof, and then insert the lower or inner edge of the panel IIn into the entrance slot I5 of the strip and into the reinforcing strip I1 thereof. As soon as the edge of the panel is properly positioned the same is pressed or forced downwardly until its extreme edge engages with the base of the U-shape reinforcing member I1, and the base or under side of the strip I3 is flattened out, as shown at Fig. 3 whereby to hold said strip I3 by suction in firm engagement with the rim of the bath. Hereupon the panel ila maybe secured to the wall or other support by screws in any other convenient manner.

Having thus described my said invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- l. A water-tight joint for bath tubs and analogous articles comprising a flexible molding member adapted to engage with upper edge of a bath tub and having a longitudinal recess therein, and a member associated with said recess adapted to receive the edge of a wall member or panel.

2. A water-tight joint for bath tubs and analogous articles comprising a flexible molding member adapted to engage with upper edge of a bath tub and having a longitudinal'recess therein, and a reinforcing member embedded in said recess adapted to receive the edge of a wall member or panel.

3. A water-tight joint for bath tubs and analogous articles comprising a flexible molding member adapted to engage with the upper edge of a bath tub and having a longitudinal recess in its upper portion, and a relatively stiff channel member disposed in said recess adapted to receive the edge of a Wall member or panel.

4. A water-tight joint for bath tubs and analogous articles comprising an elastic molding strip adapted to engage at its underside with the upper edge of a bath tub and having a longitudinal slot in its upper portion, and a U-shape member embedded in said molding strip with its open 5. A water-tight joint for bath tubs and anaiogous articles comprising 'an elastic molding strip adapted to engage at its underside with the upper edge of a bath tub and having a longitudinal slot in its upper portion, and a U-shaped, resilient member embedded in said molding strip and adapted to receive and frictionally retain the edge of a Wall member or panel.

6. A water-tight joint for bath tubs and'analogous articles comprising an elastic molding strip having its underside recessed longitudinally and adapted to engage with the upper edge of a bath tub and having a vertical longitudinal slot in its upper portion, and a U-shaped, resilient member embedded in said molding strip adapted to receive the edge of a wall member or panel.

'7. A water-tight joint for bath tubs and analogous articles comprising an elastic molding strip having a shallow, longitudinal recess in its underside and adapted to engage with the upper edge of a bath tub and having a vertical longitudinal slot in its upper portion, and a U-shaped, resilient member embedded in said molding strip adapted to receive the edge of a wall member or panel.

8. A water-tight joint for bath tubs and analogous articles comprising an elastic molding strip having a longitudinal recess in its underside tapering downwardly and outwardly towards the opposite edges of the strip, said strip being adapted to engage along its recessed underside with the upper edge of a bath tub and having a longitudinal slot in its upper portion, and a U-shape member embedded in said molding strip with its open portion registering with the longitudinal slot in said molding strip and adapted to receive the edge of a wall member or panel.

9. A water-tight joint for bath tubs and analogous articles comprising an elastic molding strip having a longitudinal recess in its underside; said recess being deep-set at approximately the center of the strip and tapering downwardly towards the opposite edges of said strip, and adapted to engage with the upper edge of a bath tub and having a longitudinal slot in its upper portion, and a U-shaped, resilient member embedded in said molding strip and adapted to receive and frictionally retain the edge of a wall member or panel.

l0. A water-tight joint for bath tubs and analogous articles comprising a rubber molding strip having a longitudinal recess in its underside; said recess being deep-set at approximately the center of the strip and tapering downwardly towards the opposite edges of said strip, and adapted to engage with the upper edge of a bath tub and having a longitudinal slot in its upper portion, and a U-shaped, resilient member embedded in said molding strip and adapted to receive and frictionally retain the edge of a wall member or panel.

l1. A water-tight joint for bath tubs and analogous articles comprising a flexible molding member adapted to engage with the upper edge of a bath tub and having a longitudinal recess in its upper portion, a channel member disposed in said recess adapted to receive the edge of a wall member or panel, and a cushioning member disposed in said channel member and engaging the edge of said wall member or panel.

l2. A'water-tight joint for bath tubs and analogous articles comprising a flexible molding member adapted to engage with the upper edge of a bath tub and having a longitudinal recess in its upper portion, a channel member disposed in said recess adapted to receive the edge of a wall member or panel, and spring means interposed between said channel member and the edge of said wall member or panel.

13. A water-tight joint for bath tubs and anal-l ogous articles comprising a exible molding member adapted to engage with the upper edge of a bath tub and having a longitudinal recess in its upper portion, a channel member disposed in said recess adapted to receive the edge of a wall member or panel, and a sinuous spring disposed in said channel member and engaging the edge of said wall member or panel.

14. A water-tight joint for bath tubs and anaiogous articles comprising a ilexible molding member adapted to engage with the upper edge 4of a bath tub and having a longitudinal recess in its upper portion, a channel member disposed in said recess adapted to receive the edge of a wall member or panel, and means for securing said channel member to said lwall member or panel.

GEORGE SAKIER. 

